Europe's Real Borders

This is an interesting map. It shows the boundaries between distinct languages in Europe. Although there may be some discrepancies in it, it is easy to see how political boundaries are so different from linguistic ones.

Taming Light

What happens when a beam of light travels through transparent textured materials? If you are Alan Jaras (or Reciprocity on Flickr), you can make it refract into a gorgeous array of colors. Bridging the gap between art and science, Jaras bends, twists and turns light...like you've never seen.

These are analogue images of the refraction patterns of a beam of light passing through various transparent objects (in this case a piece of textured glass). The image is captured directly on to 35mm film, no camera lens is used ( this is a photogram using film instead of photographic paper), the transparent object replaces the lens. Colour is introduced by placing specially prepared coloured filters directly in the light beam. This is an analogue image and has not been computer generated or colour treated. The colours you see are a faithful reproduction of those captured on film.

There are several webpages with more pics:
• flickr.com
• mymodernmet.com
• neublack.com

Cool and Cooler!

Inventor/engineer James Dyson, famous for his cyclonic vacuum cleaners (you may have seen his commercials with his vacuum that can round corners), and for his uphill water fountain introduces his latest product, the bladeless air multiplier fan. It uses a system of low pressure area and suction device in the bottom to create a smooth, continuous flow of air.